Non-handed mini-connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for securing a child seat to a passenger seat. A web is connected to the child seat and the connector which has a pivoting lever engageable with the passenger seat anchor bight. The connector includes a web receiving bracket that extends from the bottom of the connector frame allowing access to a push button activating the lever from either side of the connector outer housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to connectors that secure a child's seat to the passenger seat of a vehicle and to couplings that attach restraints to anchor members.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,394 there is described a connector for securing a child seat to the anchor bight of a vehicle passenger seat. A web has a first end attached to the child seat and a second end attached to the connector. The connector, in turn, has a movably mounted lever releasably engageable with the anchor bight positioned between the passenger seat back and bottom seat portion. In the embodiment shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,394, there is an outwardly extending bracket having a slot aperture through which the web extends and is thereby attached. The web bracket extends in a vertical plane and is integral with one of the vertical inner frame side walls. Thus, the push button or manipulator which is used to move the lever to release the connector from the anchor bight is accessible from the side of the connector opposite the web bracket. Two separate connectors must be produced and inventoried since it is desirable to locate the web brackets for the two connectors on the opposite sides of the child seat adjacent the child seat allowing ready access to the push button on each connector. To eliminate the separate production and inventory requirement, there is disclosed herein a connector having a web bracket that extends from the bottom wall of the inner frame of the connector and arranged perpendicular to the side walls of the connector. The push button or manipulator is accessible from either side of the connector since the web bracket does not block access. The resulting cost savings are substantial and a more user friendly device is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a coupling for attaching a child seat with a web to an anchor member. The coupling includes a frame having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the frame has a mouth with a notch and a seat configured to receive the anchor member. The frame includes a pair of spaced apart side walls and a frame bottom wall with the bottom wall connecting together the side walls. A lever is movably and pivotally mounted to the frame to move rectilinearly between the side walls and adjacent the bottom wall. The lever has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end includes a finger and the proximal end includes an engagement portion. The distal end of the lever extends beyond the seat of the notch in the frame. The lever has a closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member with the finger substantially covering the mouth and an open position wherein the finger is substantially removed from the mouth. A stop member is provided on the frame configured to normally engage the engagement portion to resist the movement of the lever from the closed position to the opened position. A biasing member acting between the frame and the lever urges the stop member and the engagement portion into engagement. A push button is operatively connected to the lever and the stop member. The bottom wall of the frame extends outwardly of the push button and forms a web mounting bracket. The bracket includes a web receiver to secure a web thereto that is attached to a child seat. The web mounting bracket extends outwardly allowing outward access to the push button from either side of the spaced apart side walls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved coupling device for attaching a child seat with a web to an anchor member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved connector.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art left-handed mini-connector.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right-handed mini-connector.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 2 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 2 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 2 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side perspective view of the lever used in the connector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the push button used in the connector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a non-handed mini-connector incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a left end view of the connector of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a right end view of the connector of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 9 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 9 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 9 with the outer housing removed.

FIG. 17 is a view of a child seat secured to a vehicle passenger seat anchor by means of a web and the connector incorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of prior art mini connectors used to mount a child seat to the anchor bight provided on a passenger vehicle. The mouths at the right end of the connectors in both figures are sized to receive the passenger vehicle anchor bight with a pivoting and locking lever being movable to close the mouth thereby securing the connector and child seat to the anchor bight. At the left end of both mini connectors is an outwardly extending mounting flange having a slot through which a web is extendable with the opposite end of the web connected to the child seat (FIG. 17).

Typically, a mini connector is mounted on each side of the child seat. The mini connector 20 shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as a left handed mini connector since the depressible button located adjacent the web mounting flange is located to the left side of the flange with the connector mounted to the left side of the child seat thereby allowing access to the depressible button to release the connector from the anchor bight.

The mini connector 30 of FIG. 2 is referred to as a right handed mini connector since the depressible release button is located to the right side of the web mounting flange with the connector mounted to the right side of the child seat allowing access to the button when it is desired to depress the same and release the connector from the anchor bight. FIGS. 3-5 disclose respectively a side view, top view and bottom view of the right handed mini connector of FIG. 2 with the outer housing removed but shown by the dashed lines.

Right handed mini connector 30 includes a frame 32 of a general monolithic structure having a substantially u-shaped transverse cross-section with frame 32 opening upwardly. Frame 32 is sized to fit snuggly within outer housing 31. Frame 32 has a bottom wall 33 and a pair of spaced apart side surfaces or plates 34 and 35 integrally connected thereto by wall 33 with plates 34 and 35 projecting upwardly from bottom wall 33. Plates 34 and 35 provide a pair of side walls each having a mounting aperture 36 and 37 configured to receive a mounting member 38 with enlarged opposite ends to prevent member 38 from escaping either wall 34 or 35. For example, member 38 may be a double headed rivet extending through apertures 36 and 37 with the member extending outwardly from each side 34 and 35 and across the space between sides 34 and 35. Further, a pair of aligned rectilinear translating apertures 39 are located on each side 34 and 35 with apertures 36 and 37 being located between apertures 39 and the mouth 40 of the connector. Apertures 39 receive a stop member 41, such as a pin, with stop member 41 extending through side walls 34 and 35 via the rectilinear aperture 39 located in each side wall. Stop member 41 has opposite ends with enlarged heads to prevent member 41 from escaping side walls 34 and 35 but allowing the member to move forward and rearwardly in each aperture 39 with respect to mouth 40.

Side 35 includes a mounting flange 42 integrally attached thereto which protrudes outside of housing 31 after assembly. Mounting flange 42 has an anchor aperture 43 formed to receive a web belt or other conventional connector coupling device, in turn, connected at its opposite end to the device, such as a child seat, to be secured by connector 30 to an anchor bight. Outer housing 31 has integrally attached thereto an outwardly extending flange 44 (FIG. 2) sized approximately equal to and extending adjacent mounting flange 42. Extension 44 has an aperture 45 aligned with the aperture 43 of mounting flange 42 to allow the web to be extended through both apertures.

A button assembly 50 has a substantially inverse u-shaped transverse cross-section having a top surface 68 (FIG. 7), a manipulation portion 69, and spaced apart side walls or surfaces 70 and 71. The side surfaces 70 and 71 project downwardly from top 68 toward and generally adjacent to the bottom 33 of frame 32. Sides 70 and 71 are spaced to fit between sides 34 and 35, and to receive and sandwich therebetween lever 51. At the end opposite manipulation surface 69, the side surfaces 70 and 71 form an elongated translating aperture or channel 72, configured to receive mounting member 38 (FIG. 4). The sides 70 and 71 each have aligned stop apertures 73 and 74 adapted to receive stop member 41. The button assembly 50 also has an opening or aperture 94 adapted to receive and longitudinally house spring 75 (FIG. 3), which attaches to a mounting appendage or tab 76 inside the aperture 94.

Frame 32 may be made of any suitable metallic, non-metallic, or composite material or combination thereof. The frame sides 34 and 35 are spaced apart such that they fit within housing 31 and receive and sandwich therebetween the assembled manipulation or button assembly 50 (FIG. 3) and the lever 51 (FIG. 6). Thus, the downward extending sides of the button assembly 50 nest between and oppose the upwardly extending sides of the frame with the lever nested between all sides 34, 35, 70 and 71. The entire connector shown in FIGS. 2-7 is disclosed in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,394 which is herewith specifically incorporated by reference. In particular, FIGS. 38-42 of the patent disclose the connector shown in FIGS. 2-7 disclosed herein with the only exception between the connector of FIGS. 2-7 disclosed herein is that it is a right handed mini connector whereas the connector shown in FIGS. 38-42 of the aforementioned patent is a left handed mini connector.

Sides 34 and 35 (FIG. 3) also define a notch 57 having a mouth 40 and a seat 58 sized to receive the anchor member, for example, rigid member 59 or any other anchor member, such as for example a loop and a web. Lever 51 is illustrated monolithic and made of metal being sized to move relative to and inside the frame 32 and between sides 70 and 71 of the button assembly 50. Lever 51 (FIG. 6) has an elongated mounting aperture 61 configured to receive and move about mounting member 38. The distal end 63 of lever 51 has a downwardly projecting finger 62. The finger is sized to cover the distal opening of mouth 40 when the connector is resting in a normally closed position. The proximal end of lever 51 has a downwardly opening channel 64, an engagement portion 65 and a spring mounting portion 66 all as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,394. The channel includes a camming portion 67.

Lever 51 has a normally closed position and an open position. During the normally closed position, the lever 51 is in a generally horizontal position such that the finger 63 is in a down position thereby closing off the notch 57 and mouth 40. In the closed position, the mounting member or pin 38 is at the end of mounting aperture 61 farthest away from mouth 40 and at the end of translating aperture 72 of button assembly 50 (FIG. 7) closest to notch or mouth 40. Thus, the apertures 61 and 72 generally close around the mounting member 38. Also, engagement portion 65 normally abuts against the top of the stop member 41 to positively lock the lever 51 to limit its movement from the closed position. In this closed position, spring mounting portion 66 is adapted to receive the spring 75, which tends to urge the button assembly away from the notch or mouth 40 end, thereby keeping the stop member 41 in contact with the stop member engagement portion 65.

When the manipulation button 50 is pressed inwardly towards mouth 40, the stop member 41 moves rectilinearly along translating aperture 39 thereby disengaging from the engagement portion 65 and impinging upon the camming portion 67, thereby moving the lever 51 upwardly out of its horizontal normal closed position. As the lever 51 is cammed upwardly, it moves about pin 38 in channel 61 until, near simultaneously, pin 38 reaches the end of channel 61 closest to mouth 40 and the substantial end of channel 72 furthest away from mouth 40, while stop member 41 reaches the end of translating aperture 39, thereby unlocking and moving finger 62 to unblock notch 57 and mouth 40. When pressure is released, the spring 75 urges the manipulation assembly and the stop member carried thereon back through the translating apertures 39 and towards the anchor aperture 43 and back into abutment with the engagement portion 65 to return lever 51 back to the normally closed position. In addition to a spring, for example, a helical spring, the biasing member 75 may be any other biasing member suitable to urge the lever into the closed position.

Web mounting bracket 42 is integrally connected to one end of wall 35. Web aperture 43 is located slightly outwardly of button assembly 50 to allow insertion of a web through the aperture. The prior art embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2-7 has mounting bracket 42 located parallel with and on the same side as wall 35; however, the prior art also provides having mounting bracket 42 located on the opposite side. That is, in the alternate prior art embodiment, mounting bracket 42 is integral with and parallel with wall 34. Thus, button assembly 52 is accessible through one side or the other side of the connector depending upon whether mounting bracket 42 is connected to wall 35 or wall 34. In order to eliminate the requirement for two separate designs, the current invention provides locating mounting bracket 42 between walls 34 and 35 with bracket 42 integral and parallel with the bottom wall 33.

Referring to FIGS. 8-17, there is shown a mini connector 200 incorporating the present invention. Connector 200 includes an outer housing 201 (FIG. 9), a frame 202 (FIG. 14) housed within housing 201, a manipulator 203, and a movably and pivotally mounted lever 204. The entire assembly is identical to that previously described and shown in FIGS. 2-7 with the exception that the web mounting bracket is positioned to extend out of the bottom of the mini connector in lieu of to either side of the mini connector as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, web mounting bracket 207 extends rearwardly and beneath push button 203 with bracket 207 being connected to frame 202. Further, housing 201 includes an extension 208 (FIG. 9) that extends beneath and adjacent the web mounting bracket 207. As a result, push button 203 is accessible and pushable from the left side and right side of the mini connector as compared to the mini connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2 which are each accessible from only a single side.

Frame 202 has a pair of side walls 205 and 206 (FIG. 15) integrally attached to the bottom wall 209 (FIG. 16), and is identically constructed and configured as the connector frame 32 (FIG. 3) previously described and illustrated with the exception of the web mounting bracket. Housing 201 is shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 14-16 to more clearly illustrate the construction of the frame 202 and push button 203. It is understood that housing 201 is identically constructed and configured as the housing enclosing the prior art frame and other structure with the exception that extension 208 (FIG. 9) extends outwardly of the push button from the bottom of the connector instead of to the side of the connector as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Likewise, lever 204 and push button 203 are identically constructed and configured as compared to lever 51 and push button 50 as previously described and illustrated. Thus, the push button 203 includes the helical spring 75 (FIG. 3). Likewise, the lever 204 is identical to lever 51 as shown in FIG. 6 as is the push button 203 relative to the manipulator assembly 50 disclosed and illustrated in FIG. 7. Connector 200 operates identical to the connector 30 previously described in the prior art structure with the exception of the location of the web mounting bracket and extension.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-17, bottom wall 209 of frame 202 is integrally connected to side walls 205 and 206 which generally form a u-shaped upwardly opening cross section. Wall 207 extends outwardly of push button 203 forming a web mounting bracket 207 that is integrally attached and coplanar with bottom wall 209. Web bracket 207 may be contained in the same plane as frame bottom wall 209 or may be in a separate plane that is parallel to the plane of bottom wall 207. Further, bracket 207 is contained in a plane that is not only perpendicular to the two side walls 205 and 206 of the frame but also perpendicularly arranged relative to the vertical plane that contains lever 204 as it is moved from an open position to a closed position and back. Bracket 207 includes a web receiver which is a slot configured aperture 210 to receive one end of a web, in turn, attached to a child seat. The web mounting bracket 207 allows outward access to push button 203 from either side of the pair of spaced apart side walls 205 and 206 and thus, does not block access to the push button from either side of the side walls. In other words, one may extend a hand in a direction from side wall 205 to 206 thereby accessing push button 203 and pushing button towards the mouth of the connector. Alternatively, the user may extend a hand in a direction from wall 206 towards wall 205 accessing push button 203. Thus, the connector shown in FIGS. 8-17 may be referred to as a non-handed connector.

The present invention includes variations in the web mounting bracket 207. For example, bracket 207 may be angled or curved, such as, concave or convex without being perpendicular to the frame side walls while still allowing access to the push button from either side of the side walls. Likewise, bracket may be rotatably or pivotably mounted to the frame allowing the bracket to be pivoted or rotated in order to allow access to the push button.

Housing 201 includes a top wall 212 (FIG. 11), sidewalls 213 and 214 and bottom wall 215 integrally connected together in a monolithic structure. The two sidewalls 213 and 214 of the housing are parallel and located outwardly of the pair of spaced apart side walls 205 and 206 of frame 202 which likewise is a monolithic structure. The housing bottom wall 215 is located adjacent and outwardly of the frame bottom 209.

The housing bottom wall 215 includes the extension 208 (FIG. 9) that is located adjacent and outwardly of the web mounting bracket 207 and includes an opening 216 (FIG. 8) that is aligned with the opening 210 of the web mounting bracket. Thus, the web may be extended through both openings 210 and 216 to attach the web to connector 200. Push button 203 may also be referred to as a manipulator that is operatively connected to the lever and the stop member as previously described.

Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a conventional and commercially available child seat 220 that rests upon a conventional vehicle passenger seat 221 composed of a seat back 222 and a seat bottom 223. A conventional seat anchor member 224 is located in the bight between the seat back 222 and seat bottom 223. A conventional web 225 has a first end 226 attached to the child seat 220 with the opposite end of web 225 being attached to connector 200 by the web extending through openings 210 and 216 (FIG. 8) and then stitched together or by other conventional means. Web 225 may be connected to the child seat by any number of means, such as, fixedly attached or movably attached by means of a retractor or pivot mechanism. Likewise, a web adjuster may be located at various positions along the length of the web. A second web 225 and connector 200 are located on the opposite side of the child seat shown in FIG. 17 and engage a second anchor bight member. Thus, a child seat may be installed to the passenger seat by means of a connector 200 on either side of the child seat. Since the web mounting bracket 207 is located on the bottom side of the connector 200, the push button on each connector may easily be depressed thereby releasing the connector from the two anchor bights.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. For example, child seat 220 is shown as facing rearward; however, seat 220 may also face forward depending upon the child to be held in the seat. In either case, non handed connector 200 may be utilized. Likewise, other child seats and devices may be held to an anchor by the non handed connector 200. 

1. A coupling for attaching a child seat with a web to an anchor member, the coupling comprising: a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said frame including a mouth having a notch with a seat configured to receive the anchor member, said frame including a pair of spaced apart side walls and a frame bottom wall with said bottom wall connecting together said side walls; a lever movably and pivotally mounted to said frame to move rectilinearly thereto and located between said side walls and adjacent said bottom wall, said lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end including a finger and said proximal end including an engagement portion, said distal end of said lever extending beyond the seat of the notch in said frame, wherein said lever has a normally closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member with said finger substantially covering the mouth and an open position wherein said finger is substantially removed from the mouth; a stop member provided on said frame configured to normally engage said engagement portion to resist the movement of said lever from said normally closed position to said open position; a biasing member acting between said frame and said lever, said biasing member normally urging said stop member and said engagement portion into engagement; and, a push button operatively connected to said lever and said stop member; and wherein said bottom wall of said frame extends outwardly of said push button and forms a web mounting bracket, said bracket includes a web receiver to secure a web thereto that is attached to a child seat, said web mounting bracket extending outwardly of said side walls allowing outward access to said push button from either side of said pair of spaced apart side walls.
 2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein applying a force to the push button moves the stop member and the engagement portion out of engagement.
 3. The coupling of claim 2, wherein said push button moves said stop member rectilinearly relative to said frame.
 4. The coupling of claim 3, wherein said proximal end of said lever further includes a camming portion, said stop member moving rectilinearly to abut said camming portion to pivot said lever to said open position when a force is applied to said push button.
 5. The coupling device of claim 4, wherein said frame is a monolithic structure, said web mounting bracket extending in a plane arranged generally perpendicularly to and extending between said side walls.
 6. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising: a housing configured to receive and mount therein said frame, said lever, and said push button, said housing having a mouth configured to receive the anchor member, said housing includes a top wall, a housing bottom wall, and two side walls integrally connected together, said two side walls being parallel and located outwardly of said pair of spaced apart side walls, said housing bottom wall located adjacent and outwardly of said frame bottom wall, said housing bottom wall includes an extension located adjacent and extending with said web mounting bracket and includes an opening aligned with said web receiver which is an aperture allowing the web to be extended through said opening and said aperture connecting the child seat to the coupling in turn connectable to the anchor member.
 7. The combination of: an anchor member; a child seat; a web attached to said child seat; a coupling to connect said web to said anchor member and thus said child seat to said anchor member comprising: a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said frame including a mouth having a notch with a seat configured to receive said anchor member, said frame including a pair of spaced apart side walls and a frame bottom wall with said bottom wall connecting together said side walls; a lever movably and pivotally mounted to said frame to move relative thereto and located between said side walls and adjacent said bottom wall, said lever having a lever proximal end and a lever distal end, said lever distal end including a finger and said lever proximal end including an engagement portion, said lever distal end extending beyond the seat of the notch in said frame, wherein said lever has a closed position substantially covering the mouth and an open position wherein said finger is substantially removed from the mouth; a stop member provided on said frame configured to engage said engagement portion to resist the movement of said lever from said closed position to said open position; a spring acting between said frame and said lever, said spring urging said stop member and said engagement portion into engagement; and, a manipulator operatively connected to said lever and said stop member; and wherein: said bottom wall of said frame extends outwardly of said manipulator and forms a web mounting bracket, said bracket includes a web receiver to secure said web thereto that is attached to said child seat, said web mounting bracket extending outwardly without blocking outward access to said manipulator from either side of said pair of spaced apart side walls.
 8. The coupling device of claim 7, further comprising: a housing configured to receive and mount therein said frame, said lever, and said manipulator, said housing includes a mouth configured to receive said anchor member, said housing includes a top wall, a housing bottom wall, and two side walls integrally connected together, said two side walls being parallel and located outwardly of said pair of spaced apart side walls, said housing bottom wall located adjacent and outwardly of said frame bottom wall, said housing bottom wall includes an extension located adjacent and extending with said web mounting bracket and includes an opening aligned with said web receiver which is an aperture allowing said web to be extended through said opening and said aperture connecting said child seat to the coupling in turn connectable to said anchor member, said web mounting bracket extending in a plane arranged generally perpendicularly to and extending between said side walls.
 9. A coupling for attachment to an anchor member, the coupling comprising: a frame having a first side and an opposite second side and further having a distal end defining a mouth configured to receive an anchor member and further having a proximal end; a lever having a lever plane and movably mounted to said frame between said first side and said second side and having an open position to allow the anchor member to be received within the mouth and a closed position to retain the anchor member within the mouth; a stop member provided on said frame; a biasing member urging the stop member and the lever into engagement such that said stop member resists movement of said lever from said closed position to said open position; a push button operatively connected to said lever to move said lever between the closed and open positions; and, a web receiving bracket extending outwardly of said push button allowing sideways and outward access to allow said push button to be pushed from both said first side and from said second side.
 10. The coupling of claim 9 further comprising a web attached at one end to the web receiving bracket and at the other end to a child seat, said web receiving bracket extending in a plane generally perpendicular to said lever plane.
 11. The coupling of claim 10 and further comprising: a housing configured to receive and mount therein said frame, said lever, and said push button, said housing includes a mouth configured to receive said anchor member, said housing includes a top wall, a housing bottom wall, and a pair of side walls integrally connected together, said pair of side walls being parallel and located outwardly of said first side and said second side, said housing bottom wall located adjacent and outwardly of said frame, said housing bottom wall includes an extension located adjacent and extending with said web receiving bracket and with said bracket and said extension including aligned openings allowing a web to be extended there through connecting the child seat to the coupling in turn connectable to the anchor member.
 12. The coupling of claim 11 wherein said biasing member is a helical spring.
 13. The coupling of claim 12 wherein said frame is a monolithic structure and said housing is a monolithic structure.
 14. The coupling of claim 13 wherein said web receiving bracket is integrally connected to said first side said opposite second side of said frame.
 15. The coupling of claim 14 wherein said lever is normally in a closed position prior to attachment to the anchor member.
 16. The coupling of claim 15 wherein said frame includes a bottom wall extending between and integrally connected to said first side and said opposite side of said frame.
 17. The coupling of claim 16 wherein said bracket is an extension of and coplanar with said bottom wall.
 18. The coupling of claim 17 wherein said push button moves said stop member rectilinearly relative to said frame.
 19. The coupling of claim 18 wherein applying a force to said push button moves the stop member and engagement portion out of engagement. 